19 years and counting
A favorite yet very blurry photo taken last March
5-9-93...yep! Some of you guys were probably running around in diapers. We met at 17 and by 18 we were already business partners, hand painting antiques for super high end antique shops in the area. This evolved into painting murals for country clubs, homes, and eateries, all while custom painting bedroom sets and the like right from our little apartment. We were always go-go-going. We had our van and took it wherever whenever. NYC was way different in those years...there were still tiny pockets of independently owned and operated shops. Soho and Noho were brimming with art, antiques, and the absolute latest in home decor. We'd just drive in...scope out some shops...meet the owners and/or buyers...show them what we do...and just like that we'd be working with them...soon seeing our own stuff for sale in those same shops! By age 23 we were so deep into our little field of expertise...we were in a bunch of magazines, had an antique booth, a long list of celebrity clients, a store with our own line of furniture, (I just came across this old newspaper article on us...funny!) dozens of shops across the country carried our line...we were doing so so much. Two best friends working so HARD but loving it...getting absolutely zero sleep. I'm dating myself so much here...but I remember us just doing so much driving...(and what I mean by 'dating myself', is that gas prices nowadays would prohibit such whimsical behavior)...the highways and byways of NJ, NY, CT, PA...we'd trace lines on maps and just go. We pretty much grew up together...we met and together we formed the adult people we would become. Our first apartment, our first car...so many firsts, so many memories, and so many ups and downs.
Probably at the moment when our plates were fullest, when we were doing so so much living, Aaron got into a near fatal car crash. In an instant our world stopped spinning. We were doing enough work for 5 people...and next thing ya know Aaron was in rehab and we were thrilled if he was able to use his walker to get to the bathroom and back. From 90 mph right down to zero. And it took some getting used to. A whole lot of surgery over the next couple years and all the laid-up time that followed. Those are the ingredients for a three layer depression cake frosted with whipped anxiety.
But changes come and you adapt. Being laid-up meant no more heavy lifting for Aar. So doing hand painted furniture was out. In that little cluster of years spent mostly at home is when we started selling our artwork on Ebay...back in the days before etsy. I discovered blogs and this fab online world that didn't require all the heavy lifting of our previous life. We switched up everything we did...but artists should be able to do that. If you just stay true and do the work that you need to do...the work that comes straight from your soul. There certainly were growing pains...and shrinking pains too I guess.
And here we are today. 19 years sounds like such a long long time! We're just rolling through another loop on the rollercoaster of life. It's still J & A. Still best friends...thinking of the future...living for today.
Happy Anniversary Aaron...I love you to bits and bits and bits!
xo Jenny
June 2007
2006 ish
19 years! yowza! youre right i was in baby diapers LOL
ReplyDeletecongrats though! that is beyond adorable/sweet/impressive/amazing!!
xoxo
Oh wow, what a great story! Congrats on so many full and wonderful and lesson learning years. My husband and I are rounding on to ten years and I cant believe it. And in 1993 I was not in diapers, just rocking some wannabe grung flannel and scrunchies in middle school, hehe. Congrats and may you have decades more of fabulousness ahead of you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! You look stunning in that photo, btw. I love your story. You seem to have such a fun and interesting life! Love when you share pieces of it! xox
ReplyDeleteAW You guys are too cute. Congrats on your time together, xo
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I thought you were 23. :) I thought you were in diapers when you met. lol. Sorry, kinda slow. =)
ReplyDeleteCongrats and many more years to come! (I was not running around in diapers, but had two kids at that age in diapers!) xo and happy day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Jenny & Aaron. You both are truly an inspiration to all who know and love you.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Mom and Dad
Oh boy...I remember some of those earlier days...and I remember the first time you came into my store...I thought you were the cutest couple on the planet! Happy, Happy Anniversary!
ReplyDelete♥, Susan
Ohhhhh Jenny Holiday...thanks for sharing your amazing love story. I am so happy to read it. Happy Anniversary to you both. Many more years of creative collaborations to you~!
ReplyDeleteAw, happy anniversary to you two! What a wonderful story you have, thanks so much for sharing it! I'm so glad we've been able to meet through the blog world; you are so inspiring and I always look forward to reading your posts, so it's really nice to read about how you started out, and equally as exciting to follow your adventures now. ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary to you both! I love this story and the photos that you used, too. Very nice. here is to 19+ more!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It's so lovely to see were you've come and were you guys are headed. Such a beautiful and talented couple. Congratulations you two!
ReplyDeletewow what an amazing story you guys have. Congrats on the anniversary!
ReplyDeleteYou've stood the test of time and are still going strong. Happy anniversary to a couple who not only live together but work together, too. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteAdorable and Sweet !!!!
ReplyDeleteYou 2 are so cute! I love your story x
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversaryday!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you both, you seem like such a wonderful couple and your story is so inspiring <3
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dear-sweetlings.com
Aw wow! Happy anniversary, 19 years is amazing! :D You have an incredible story!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rafflesbizarre.blogspot.com
happy Anniversary to you both! I think you truly belong together.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to do something fun to celebrate this weekend.
xoxo
vivian
19 years, wow good work! This is such a nice post. I'm pretty amazed at how much the two of you have achieved together, you rock! Also wow you've barely aged I would have thought you were younger (purely going on your great skin and youthfull looks!) I guess working together must suit you well because you both look great and seem like a really lovely couple. Wishing you many many more happy years together! Happy Anniversary! :) x
ReplyDeleteAwww Happy Anniversary! ♥♥♥ Actually in May of 1993 I was getting ready to graduate high school so I'm thinking we're pretty close in age (woohoo!)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a fabulous life together!
Happy Anniversary! Your art work is amazing and I LOVE your colors!
ReplyDelete19 years? Wow! I'm 10 years with my man and it just flies by.
ReplyDeleteHope you have many more happy years to come xx
Congratulations! :) So nice to have such a bond! Enjoy yourselves! :) x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you both! Here's to many many more wonderful years together!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story Jenny...Congratulations on 19 years together! I only wish I had my old copies of Country Living to see your furniture...I'll bet it was fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Tammy
Amazing life, amazing story!
ReplyDeleteLove is a beautiful thing! Congrats!
ReplyDeletecongrats sweetest couple EVER! xxoxox
ReplyDeleteBelated congrats, what a lovely post!
ReplyDelete